Rookie QB Sam Darnold Named Jets' Week 1 Starter
By Dennis Waszak Jr., AP Pro Football Writer
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Sam Darnold will start at quarterback in the New York Jets' season-opening game at Detroit on Monday night.
The 21-year-old Darnold will be the youngest quarterback to start in Week 1 since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.
Sam Darnold will replace Drew Bledsoe as the youngest ever NFL QB to start Week 1 (since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger). Darnold will be just 21 years and 97 says old. The #Jets' new era begins. @garyvee @ajv
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 3, 2018
The announcement Monday by coach Todd Bowles comes as no surprise as the rookie was solid while starting the Jets' second and third preseason games.
New York traded Teddy Bridgewater to New Orleans last week, and Darnold then sat out the preseason finale at Philadelphia — clear signals that the No. 3 overall draft pick would be under center against the Lions.
Darnold was given every opportunity to win the job in a competition with Bridgewater and incumbent Josh McCown, and he didn't disappoint. He went 29 of 45 for 244 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the preseason.
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